High fluoride incidence in groundwater and its potential health effects in parts of Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh, India

Dear All

Fluoride in the drinking water is one of the concern for all of us as it causes several health hazards and its consequence is disability. Reflections and suggestions made on this key issue are as follows:
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Dear Authors and Editor

Through network, happy to see the paper on the health hazard due to fluoride. First congratulations to authors for good work done in this direction.

For the purpose of improvement, the reflections and gaps made are as follows:

1. Due to fluoride in the drinking water, among the health hazards, disability is the known cause and it is alarming in several parts of India.
2. The samples were collected from the existing handpumps. What is the relationship between the content of F and the depth of water layer / sample?
3. All the water samples represent single layer or mix of two or more layers?
4. Any relationship or pattern was established between the content of F and the groundwater movement direction?
5. Presentation of temperature, PH & EC in the form of contours or images would have given better perspective both area wise and parameter wise.
6. An areal view about the depth of water sample Vs its location may add additional dimension for better understanding.
7. Fig 3 clearly indicates the spatial distribution of F content both during pre-monsoon and post -monsoon periods.
8. The F situation is alarming during the pre-monsoon and less during post-monsoon.
9. It shows that lowering of groundwater level during the pre-monsoon aggravates the F situation.
10. Fig 4 reflects that majority of the area is under the influence of F content and prone for health hazards.
11. It indicates that the study area is under the influence of mining activity?
12. Any relationship could be established in this direction?
13. In spite of the alarming situation, the study could not come out with appropriate preventive measures except further detailed study?

Knowing and understanding the situation, suggestions for improvement and minimizing the impact were made as:

1. With the existing data base, establish the depth and zone of water layer which contains the F content.
2. Use Geophysical Tools like simple resistivity for mapping the groundwater layers and its quality including the groundwater movement direction.
3. Use the geo-mapping tools to establish the impact of mining on the groundwater environment both quantity and quality wise including its movement direction.
4. As lowering of water level is enhancing the influence of F content (Fig 3), use groundwater recharging techniques like traditional as well as the recharging wells for improving the groundwater resources and thus to minimize the influence of F content.
5. Allow the community to shoulder the responsibility of water management at all levels with external facilitation.

Hope these measures will improve the groundwater resources and thus minimize the influence of F.
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Looking forward for better understanding and to work for its prevetnion.

with thanks